Wow I don't even know where to begin. This last week has been truly bittersweet. Although I spent the last week of my study abroad adventure among great new friends in Northern Botswana on safari, I now am sitting in JFK, excited to venture home, but also already missing my new family and friends and finding it difficult to think how I can possibly sum up my experience when people ask me "How was it?"
But before I get too sentimental I'll catch you up on my safari adventure! After a sad farewell party on Friday night, 7 of us headed to the bus station at 5:30 to catch yet another long bus to Maun. Yet again it was a long trip with crowded crazy people and peeing behind whatever bush you could find. But eventually we made it to Maun and jumped on a safari truck to drive to our campsite. I was a little apprehensive sitting on the edge seat at first...no railing, high speeds and lots of wind. However after a week of bumpy roads and cold mornings I would get over this.
We booked our safari with Naga Safaris (Naga = bush in setswana) and discovered that it is a family run safari company and the father was the first trained black safari guide in Botswana. He was quite the character and told us his story around the campfire that night. His son, KG, was our driver for a week and was incredibly knowledgable, any question we threw at him he had an answer for, or at least an awkward laugh because he didn't want to respond. For example when we asked him if anyone had fallen out of the safari truck before he just laughed...later we realized that this iconic laugh usually meant yes.
Our lodging was well lets say high end camping. Every day after a long day of game drives/traveling we would pull up to a campsite....tents w/2 cots and an attachable bush bathroom. Rose was also our cook and made amazing meals. I don't know how she managed to make lasagna and the like on a campfire! Absolutely amazing! Although I had been expecting to sleep in a sleeping bag on the ground, getting a little spoiled was kind of nice.
Our first full day of driving was absolutely amazing...saw far more than I would have thought. We happened upon dozens of giraffes and elephants. We also stalked a lioness as she hunted some impala. However her hunt and our viewing was ended when a bird spoiled her presence...bye bye impala. We also came across a vehicle stuck in the mud/water and enjoyed watching KG's expertise as he drove them out. Note to self: do not rent your own vehicle and drive through deep water/mud in the middle of a National Park.
We also managed to watch lions mate that afternoon...a bit awkward, I felt like i was invading their personal space. We later happened upon some baboon mating as well, apparently lots of animals in Bots don't mind giving a free show.
We also had some scary/adrenaline rushing experiences. We were watching probably about 70 elephants or so when one of the moms thought we were a little too close (there were many babies around), so she started walking towards us making noises and putting up her ears....at least it was only a mock charge and she went away with the roaring of the engine (thanks KG). We also took a makoro ride one morning (traditional wooden shallow canoes) and had an encounter with 3 hippos. At first they were off in the distance, but then one disappeared, he came a little closer, then disappeared again. This time he reappeared about 30 feet or so from us....scary being that close to such a dangerous animal when you are in a very tippy canoe! Again he disappeared and we anticipated maybe having to make a dash for it, but he surfaced in the distance with the other 2 hippos. Apparently he didn't find us very threatening. Although later when we were in a bigger boat and got about 15 feet from a hippo on land, he stared to mock charge but my friend's scream apparently warded him off and he went back to his nap. We also saw many crocs....yet again incredibly close, maybe 5 feet. We came across one maybe 15feet in length (in his 70s) and had he been hungry we surely would have been on the menu.
Those are the most exciting stories, but we saw so many animals...elephants, giraffes, lions, zebras, kudos, impalas, steenbocks, wild janet, hyenas, cheetahs, wildebeests, bush babies, crocs, meerkats, birds galore and so many more. And we ended our trip with a sunset boat cruise on the Chobe River...not a bad way to finish the week off.
Thursday we flew back to Gabs (a little shorter route than busing!) and went out for one last meal at Moghul, our favorite indian restaurant. Friday afternoon the 7 of us began our journeys back to the states...luckily I was flying back to JFK with 3 of my good friends, although what should have been a very easy journey turned into a bit of chaos. Our flight from Gabs got delayed 2 hours so we were nervous about missing our flight to JFK. After lots of arguing, pushing and being abandoned, we finally got new boarding tickets for a flight that left a little earlier. Although in the end the new flight left when our old delayed flight would have anyways because of so many passengers switching and paperwork confusion. We arrived in Jo'Burg at 7:50 and our flight left at 8:30. After running through security, we sprinted to our terminal, lucky to find it still boarding. With a little convincing, I was able to sit next to one of my friends, which made the flight go much smoother (although I still only slept 2 hours). Although we arrived to JFK safely and on time, my baggage did not. Now I only hope that it will be on the flight tomorrow, otherwise my family is out of luck on getting their gifts. I could careless about all of my clothes, but there are a few things I accumulated that I would hate to loose. cross your fingers! Now I am sitting in JFK waiting for my 4pm flight...at least its not a bad airport to be stuck in for 9 hours!
I am so excited to be home and see my family and friends. Although a part of me also wishes I could have stayed in Bots a little longer. I was finally really beginning to feel comfortable with my family and Gabs. I no longer felt like a tourist jumping on a combi and shouting mo stopong! Many of us were talking about how we wished our family and friends could have come and visited us for a week so we could have stayed longer!
However I am excited to leave behind the work ethic I experienced in many places. Things just move much slower. I also will not miss being hit on constantly and being called "legkoa" when I walk down the street. Although at the same time I have become more relaxed and hope to balance the relaxed thinking with the hectic mindset of school. Everyone needs a little balance in life...it just takes lots of discover and practice.
I also am anticipating reverse culture shock. I felt that I knew relatively what to expect traveling to Botswana so living there was not a huge adjustment (although I still learned so much!), however adjusting back to the American lifestyle will be a bit of a challenge. I have learned to live with just the necessities...living out of a backpack really shows you what you need and can leave behind. It will be hard to go back to the material world where people have so much but sometimes appreciate very little. Already in New York I am a little thrown off by the technology everywhere even though I have been here before. And as odd as it sounds its going to be weird not being the minority. Being the minority for 2 months really gave me a different perspective I will never forget.
And just a heads up, you will hear me say some odd phrases. Without thinking I say "Eish" and "Is it?" and "shame"....these might be habits I wont get rid of, so get use to it! Also if I say "I'm coming" it really means I'm going and I'll be right back. an odd opposite phrase that I picked up.
It is also sad to leave my Gabs family behind. I was their first American student and right as I left they found out they were hosting a new student for 4 months. I got the odd feeling that I was being replaced. Although I know that my family will always remember me, as I will them. They insisted that I stay in touch and who knows, maybe someday they will come to visit me! My sister was really sweet and called me in the airport to tell me how much she enjoyed having me and how much she will miss me, she almost brought me to tears!
I received a package a year or two back when I was at school from my mom. She sent me a bunch of frog bath toys...it turned out to then me a tradition that whenever my parents or I traveled we would take a different frog with us. I found one stowed away in my luggage the last week of my trip as I was packing. I then named it Bontle (my setswana name) and gave it to my nephew so maybe he will remember me when he gets a little older. Apparently he loves it! Bontle is the first frog to stay where he/she visited and I think she will like her new home!
Although I learned so much working in the clinics in Gabs, I think we all have this idea that when we travel abroad as I did we will have some spectacular moment where we realize what we want to do in life, not so much the case. I thought I would have some moment of realization in the clinic that would help me decide where I go from here. Still up in the air. But I have a new found (and not surprisingly) love for traveling and discovering the unknown. I may have no idea whether I will go to med school, public health grad school, get a masters in social work, or be a safari guide, however I definitely will be taking a year off and potentially spend it teaching internationally. Although I am open to any suggestions!
A summer of adventure, learning and appreciation.
look for pictures soon...I'll try to post a link in the next few days once I sort through them all!
Then that will be my last blog until my next international adventure. Thanks to everyone who has been so supportive. I apologize for my lax writing style/grammar...time got away from me this summer. Too much to do and too much to see.
Go Siame. Sala Sentle. (Goodbye. Go well.)
Welcome home Kenzie!!! Can't wait to see all the pictures!!! I must have been at La Guardia while you were at JFK!!!!
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